The Hermetic Museum, Restored and Enlarged

L AS GOWw VATVE our LUBRART; PREFACE TO THE OmnRiGINAL EDITION I—Tnur GorpEN TmRacT concerning the Stone of the Philosophers, by an Anonymous German Adept II.— Tur GorpEN Acre ResrogEp : Having now appeared a second time, flourished beautifully, and brought forth fragrant and Golden Seed. 'This rare and precious Seed is shewn and imparted to all the Sons of True Wisdom and the Doctrine, by Henry Madathanas III.—Tnurx Soprnic HypnorrrH ; or, Water Stone of the Wise, that is, a Chemical Work, in which the Way is shewn, the Matter named, and the Process described ; namely, the Method of obtaining the Universal Tincture ... sot ES IV. —A DEMONSTRATION OF NATURE, made to the erring Alchemists, and complaining of the Sophists and other False Teachers. Set forth by John A. Mehung V.—A SnHonT TRacr, or PmuHiLosoPHiCAL SuMMARY, by VI.—THr ONLY TnRuE Wav; or, an useful, good, and helpful Tract, pointing out the Path of Truth VII.—THEs GronRvy or THE WoRrp ; or, Table of Paradise ; that is-to say, a True Account of the Ancient Science which Adam learned from God Himself; which Noah, Abraham, and Solomon held as one of the Greatest Gifts of God ; which also all Sages, at all times, preferred to the wealth of the whole world, regarded as the Chief Treasure of the whole world, and bequeathed only to Good Men; namely, the Science of the Philosopher's Stone is asc

VIII.—A TRAcT or GREAT PRicE, published by a German Sage in the year 1423, under the following title : 'The True Teaching of Philosophy concerning the Generation of Metals and their True Origin IX.—4A Vzrnvy BRrgzF TRACT CONCERNING THE PHILOSOPHICAL SroNr. Written by an unknown German Sage, about 200 years ago, and called The Book of Alze... X.—THE Book or LAMBSPRING, a noble ancient Philosopher, concerning the Philosophical Stone, by Nicholas Barnaud Delphinas XL—THEÉ GorpEN TmiPop; or, Three Choice Chemical Tracts, namely: That of Basilius Valentinus, a Monk of the Benedictine Order, called Practica, with Twelve Keys and an Appendix ... PROBE BACE DO TqUEH BINGIPSH EDITION. HE HERMETIC MUSEUM RESTORED AND ÉNLARGED was published in Latin at Frankfort, in the year 1678, and, as its title implies, it was an enlarged form of an anterior work which, appearing in 1625, is more scarce, but, intrinsically, of less value. Its design was apparently to supply in a compact form a representative collection of the more brief and less ancient alchemical writers; in this respect, it may be regarded as a supplement to those large storehouses of Hermetic learning such as the Z7eatrum Chemicum, and that scarcely less colossal of Mangetus, the 2z0Zotheca Chemzca Cu*iosa, which are largely concerned with the cream of the archaic literature, with the works of Geber and the adepts of the school of Arabia, with the writings attributed to Hermes, with those of Raymond Lully Arnold de Villa Nova, Bernard Trevisan, and others. TuE HERMETIC MUSEUM would also seem to represent a distinctive school in Alchemy, not altogether committed to certain modes and terminology which derived most of their prestige from the past, and sufficiently enigmatical as it was, still inclined to be less obscure and misleading than was the

habit,of the older masters. For it belonged to a period which had inherited a bitter experience of the failures, impostures, and misery surrounding the ZZagzum Opus and its mystical quest, which was weary of unequipped experiment, weary of wandering * multipliers, and pretentious * bellowsblowers," while it was just being awakened to the conviction that if Alchemy were true at all, it was not to be learned from books, or, at least, from any books which had hitherto been written on the subject. Running through all the tracts which are comprised in the following volumes, the reader will recognize traces of a central claim in alchemical initiation— that the secrets, whatever they were, must be understood as the property of a college of adepts, pretending to have subsisted from time almost immemorial, and. revealing themselves to the select and the few, while the literature, large as it is, appears chiefly as an instrument of intercommunication between those who knew. At the same time, it may also be regarded as a.sign and omen to the likely seeker, an advertisement that there was a mystery, and that he must go further who would unravel it. While the treatises now translated are for the most part anonymous, as befits veiled masters, the literary reader will remember that the name of John de Meung connects the allegorical * Romance of the Rose" with the parables of Alchemy ; Flamel will be familiar to all Hermetic students as the most celebrated of the French adepts ; the saintly name of Basil Valentine, investigator of the properties of antimony, will not even now be unhonoured by the chemist; Eirenaeus Philalethes, equally revered and unknown by all devout Spagyrites, is supposed to have been the most lucid

VE UE POINTE) INQUE NGHE AST. BETON. x of hierophants, and the *Open Entrance" to be the clearest of all his works. Helvetius was an illustrious chemist, and Michael Maier is a person of some repute in the Rosicrucian controversy. Michael Sendivogius was an uninstructed disciple of Alexander Seton, and the * New Chemical Light," which he published and claimed as his own, was really the work of his master, who has been called the chief martyr of Alchemy. It may be added in this connection that some critics have cast doubt upon the genuine nature of the " Testament of John Cremer," and it is true that the annals of Westminster do not include an abbot of that name. It should be understood that the writer of this brief note must not be accredited with the translation which it seeks to introduce. That is the work of a gentleman who is said to have had a life-long acquaintance with alchemical literature; it has been subjected to a searching revision at the hands of the present editor, who may himself be permitted to claim some experience in Hermetic antiquities; the version as it stands does not uncreditably represent both the spirit and the sense of the original without the original's prolixity. While affording to the modern student of secret doctrines an unique opportunity for acquiring in English a collection of alchemical writers, this edition of THE HERMETIC MUSEUM also claims consideration at the hands of the historian as a contribution of real value to the early history of chemistry.

a SON ; IA MU bos Piel EA: CI" ima T UMS n OD THE ORIGINE bIDIZJTZdI|GIT: all the arts invented for the use of life by the reason of man, that of Acemy is the most noble and glorious. For all philosophers exclaim, as it were, with one voice, albeit in many languages, that this art is not only true, but (after the Divine Law by which our souls are saved) the best and most magnificent gift bestowed upon man by God; and that it should therefore be investigated with all zeal and with the greatest pains. But as good wine needs no praise, so neither does this art require a herald ; for its truth is undoubted, and its utility in human life universally acknowledged, and shewn forth, not only in the Art of Medicine, in Pharmacy, and many other sciences, but more especially in the Art of Transmuting Metals, is so clearly and perspicuously demonstrated, that it in no way requires to be adorned by the splendour of oratory, or tricked out with the device of language. I will not enlarge upon the blessing which the elaboration of minerals and metals has bestowed upon our race. I merely point it out, but refrain from discussing it at length. Different men devote themselves to the study of this science from different motives. The philosopher is impelled by the love of truth, and the thirst after wisdom. He delights in knowledge for its own sake. He

| T would be unjust to doubt, most gentle reader, that of welcomes every elegant and copious treatise on the marvels of Nature, to the glory of Almighty God. This is a sufficiently generous reward for a philosopher. He has at his command: the most effectual means of becoming rich, if he would only use them. Buthe is fired by the love of philosophy, and does not care for the mocking grandeur of fortune. So thought the Sages of the Saracens, Egyptians, Arabs, and Persians; for when they were oppressed by tyrants, and violently driven into exile, they protected and supported themselves by means of their Art, and, through their knowledge of the transmutation of metals, they had at their command, not only sufficient to live upon, but all the comforts and pomp of life, and thus practically demonstrated that they could obtain all that gold and silver could give. Concerning this true transmutation of metals, which is accomplished only by the Elixir or Stone of the Philosophers, we here propose to speak. This art is set forth in a series of treatises by different authors, which appeared several years ago, and, like the present volume, was entitled * A Museum of Hermes" But many writers having discussed this subject, and treated it from various points of view (so that one writes more clearly than another, and each throws light on the other's meaning), some of my friends, who are adepts in this Art, urged me to add to the former collection certain treatises supplementary of those already given.

For though that former collection contained the mostselect writings on the subject, yet it was not as complete as it might have been, nor was it calculated to furnish to the reader in full measure the eagerly expected fruit.of his study. "To this wish of my friends I have all the more readily submitted, because its fulflment must redound to the advantage of the student. I have, therefore, enlarged the collection with several most select treatises, and caused it to be adorned with many engravings. lI was most strongly impelled to undertake the task by this consideration, viz, that through the fraudulent machinations of greedy impostors many false, so-called chemical treatises have been put forward, in which there is not a single spark of truth, and that very many have been, and are still being deceived by them. These dupes, by reading this book, in which the Magistery of the Stone is most clearly and plainly set forth, and into which no

error or forgery has been admitted, will be secured against the imposture of that wicked and mercenary band who delight in fraud. For in this book all errors are shewn up and dispelled. For this reason I confidently offer this volume to the sons of knowledge, in order that while they think upon and investigate the secret working of Nature, they may obtain from it nothing but the truth, and gain a clear insight into the very nature of things. In this alone consists the perfection of the entire most Holy Art of Philosophy. Only let them go forward along the Royal Road which Nature prescribes in all her operations. As to the rest, I heartily beg the friends of this Art to give a kindly reception to the present volume, and when, through the Will of God, by constant labour, they have put ashore in the desired haven of philosophy, after the manner of philosophers to exclude all that are unworthy from the knowledge thereof, and, being mindful of charity towards their needy neighbour in the fear of God (without any vain ostentation), to sing eternal praises to the Good and Thrice Great God for this Wonderful and Divine Gift (without any abuse thereof) in a silent and devoutly joyful heart.

NEA ((i/f 1 ENUN Qua. funt i fn ips E deno d mfünt- z Uu caelum, id terra. frequenter lalet lys, ua M Mitans duo y funt conFraru: felix , "f ?t Hbi fCirz fat NE UN MIRGRBUP eG: —Ds omina c E EE. M n Bv AN ANONYMOUS GERMAN PHILOSOPHER. ' : , x : à N b à " - , 12 * s , |l - | ' x: The Author's Preface to the Art-loving Reader. ORTHY reader, and true enquirer into the secrets 4 of nature, marvel not that in the old age of this world, when it seems to have one foot already in the grave, I have determined to write this tract, although all libraries are already full of books on this subject— of which, however, the greater part are false, and wear merely the rouge and powder of philosophy. I have written it not for my own pleasure, but for your advantage, that, by pointing to the foundation of truth, I might lead you back from the pathless wilderness into the right way—which is certainly for your own interest. As far as I am concerned, I have long known all that I seek to know in regard to this matter, and have no need of many books, seeing that during the last twenty-two years I have read and re-read all the works that fell into my hands—including numerous manuscripts, as well as many printed volumes. In this my tract you will find the subject set forth, and the

true solution given, not only theoretically, but also from a practical and allegorical point of view, with a clearness and lucidity such as I believe to be almost unparalleled in any previous philosophical treatise. In quoting, 1 have always been careful to give the exact reference, so that you may look out the passage for yourself, and by diligently considering it, sharpen your understanding. I could more easily have composed this treatise, and made myself known to the Brethren of the Golden Cross, if I had left out those references ; but for your sake I decided otherwise. Do not wonder that I conceal my name, and refuse to appear to you face to face. I have come forward, not for the sake of any paltry glory, or of worldly praise, but to do you good. Moreover, my teachers, even the true philosophers, advised me not thus to risk my life for the sake of obtaining a high place in the world's esteem, to expose myself to greedy robbers or to give occasion for many crimes by the prostitution of this profoundsecret. No doubt the gentle reader has learned by the works of Sendivogius that whenever he shewed himself openly to the powerful, he went in constant fear of hislife. Experience teaches that many philosophers who gave no thought to their personal safety, have been killed and deprived oftheirtinctureby greedy and powerful robbers ; and it stands to reason that any one going about with a great treasure in his hand, must fall a prey to brigands.

Sendivogius concealed his name by an anagram. Thus also a short time ago another philosopher and Brother of the Golden Cross, whose real name has long been familiar to me, concealed it beneath an anagram, and made himself known to his friends by an enigmatical designation. Why then should I place myself at the mercy of this impure world ? Permit me rather, dear friend, to follow the example ofthe sages, and leave the rest to the thrice good and great God, who will make my true self known to you in good time, if it be for the glory of His name, and for your and my good. Do not be eager to enquire after my name. For even if you should get to know it, or become personally acquainted with me, you would have to rest satisfied with the contents of this tract. For I have solemnly promised two philosophers— Bernard, Count of Trevisan, and Neigens—that I will not betray to any one more than has been revealed in this book. — Neither beanxious to ask whether I actually possess this precious treasure. Ask rather whether I have seen how the world was created ; whether I am acquainted with the nature of the Egyptian darkness; what is the cause of the rainbow ; what will be the appearance of the glorified bodies at the general resurrection ; what is the most indelible colour. Of you that rightly understand this little book, I will enquire whether you have seen that great salt sea, without any corrosion, raise a sufficiency of the moisture of all nature to the summits ofthe highest mountains. Tell me

where there is sulphur out of sulphur, and mercury out of mercury—or where sulphur springs from mercury, and again mercury from sulphur. When was there placed before your eyes the idea of most fervent love, the male and the female embracing each other so closely that they could no more be torn asunder, but through unsearchable love became oze? If you understand what I am alluding to, and have performed the experiment with your own hands, and seen it with your own eyes, I welcome you as fellow partakers of the mystery, and have no dearer wish than to enjoy your familiar intercourse—for which reason I have also sent forth into the world this little tract. If any one complain of the difficulty of our Art, let him know that in itself it is perfectly simple, and can present no obstacle to those who love God, and are held worthy by Him of this knowledge. If any one blame me for setting forth the truths of this Art too plainly and clearly, so as to render it possible for any one to gain a knowledge thereof, I answer that I have indeed explained them with sufficient lucidity for those who are worthy and foreordained of God, but that the unworthy can derive no profit from them. — To some foolish and shallow persons I have several times expounded this Art in the simplest manner, and even word for word, but they despised it only, and would not believe me that there is exhibited in our work a twofold resurrection of the dead.

Our Art, its theory as well as its practice, is altogether a gift of God, Who gives it when and to whom He elects : it is not of him that wills, or of him that runs, but simply through the mercy of God. "Though I had diligently studied this Art for 17 or 18 years, yet I. had, after all, to wait for God's own time, and accept it as a free gift. No one need doubt the truth orcertainty ofthis Art. It is as true and certain, and as surely ordained by God in nature, as it is that the sun shines at noontide, and the moon shews her soft splendour at night. But I must conclude this preface, and gird myself for writing the tract itself. But ye, beloved Brethren of the Golden Cross, who are about to learn how to enjoy and use this most precious gift of God in secret, do not remain unknown to me, and if ye know me not, be sure that the faithful will be approved and their faith become known through the Cross, while security and pleasure overshadow it. God be with us, Amen!

IO THE HERMETIC MUSEUM. ? N o AE HS LEA DH P HEAT 777777 N W N NS t NNNNN SN , / Z N SS oL Z 4 z i t: : E , 5 ] / - Z : 4 : SS SNNSNN | 53 , i | reader, and devoted seeker after true wisdom, when through the grace of God they had reached the goal of their desires, have endeavoured to make their discovery known to their fellow inquirers in all parts of the world—not only because they wished to inform them that the thrice great and good God had enlightened their minds, blessed the labours of their hands, and shewn to them the greatest and most profound secret of earthly wisdom (for which benefit all praise, honour, and glory are justly due to Him)— but also that they might afford assistance to beginners in the Art, by which, with God's permission, they too might attain to the knowledge of this most holy mystery. Such men there have been in all countries. Amongst the Egyptians Hermes Trismegistus holds the highest place; then come Chaldaans, Greeks, Arabs, Italians, Gauls, Englishmen, Dutchmen, Spaniards, Germans, Poles, Hungarians, Hebrews, and many others. Though the aforementioned Sages wrote at different times, and in different languages, yet their works exhibit so marvellous an agreement, that any true philosopher may easily see that all their hearts had been gladdened by God in the discovery of this stone, and that they all had performed this work with their own hands. Now, as the truth of their views is perceived by their agreement, so the disagreement of certain others marks them as false philosophers. For, not knowing the foundation of this glorious Art, and making up fanciful theories out of their own heads, they exhibit their ignorance to all.

À NCIENT as well as modern philosophers, most beloved The aforesaid agreement exists in regard to the Matter, its solution, its weight, and the regulation and increase of the fire. As concerns the Matter, it is oze, and contains within itself all that is needed. Out of it the artist prepares whatever he wants. Its '' Birth is in the sand," as the philosopher Anastratus says in * The Crowd " : * Nothing is more precious than the red sand of the sea ; it is the distilled moisture of the Moon joined tothe light of the Sun, and congealed." That only this one substance is required is attested by Agadmon in the same book. He says: * Know that unless you take my body [sulphur] without the spirit [mercury] ye will not obtain what ye desire. Cease to think of many things. Natureis satisfied with one thing, and he who does not know it is lost." In the same way Arnold, of Villa Nova, writes in his * Flower of Flowers"; ** Our stone is made out of one thing, and with one thing." To the same effect he says to the King of Naples: * Allthat is in our stone is essential to it, nor does it need any foreign ingredient. Its nature is one, and it is oze thing. And Rosinus says: * Know that the object of your desire is one thing, out of which all things are made." Lilium:

* You have need only of one thing, which at any stage of our experiment can be changed into another nature." So Geber says in his * Summary" : '* Our stone is one, one medicine, to which we add nothing, from which we take nothing away, only removing that which is superfluous" Again, Scites in * The Crowd" says: * The essence of this Art is in like manner a certain one thing which is stronger and more exalted than all other things, and is called the most powerful acid, because it changes gold into a clear spirit, without which there is neither whiteness, nor blackness, nor redness. When the spirit is joined to the body it becomes one with it; and yet again becomes a spirit, and is saturated with the spiritual and unchangeable tincture, and thus again by combination receives a bodily tincture which cannot be annihilated. If you place the body without the acid over the fire, it will be burnt and destroyed." From these words of Scites the reader might conclude, that not one but two things, namely a body and an acid (as he calls it) are required, and that a liquid must be combined with a dry thing lest the dry thing should be consumed by the fire, in order that

by the moist thing it may be preserved from such combustion. To such a conclusion, if rightly accepted, I gladly subscribe. But from the above mentioned philosophical dicta (however obscurely worded they may be) it is clearer than day that the substance of our Blessed Stone is oze (although different sages call it by different names), and that Nature has made it ready to the hand of the adept, having willed this one thing, and no other thing in all the world, to be the material of the Stone. "This Matter lies before the eyes of all; everybody sees it, touches it, loves it, but knows it not. It is glorious and vile, precious and of small account, and is found everywhere. "Theophrastus Paracelsus, in his book concerning * The Tincture of Physical Things," calls it the Red Lion, which is named by many, but known by few. Hermes, in the first chapter of his Treatise, calls it "Quick Silver coagulated in its innermost chambers." In the * Rosary of the Philosophers" itgoes by the name of Salt. But, to be brief, our Matter has as many names as there are things in the world; that is why the foolish know it not. Foolish I call those who, without any previous knowledge of Nature and her properties, undertake to learn this Art, and come to it (as Arnold says)like the ass to the crib, not knowing for what they open their mouths.

Hence it is well said by Geber, in the ** Sum of Perfection: * He who has no elementary knowledge of Nature is far from a proper appreciation of this Art" And Rosarius says: "Iadvise no one to approach this Art unless he knows the principle and the regimen of Nature: if he be acquainted with these, little is wanting to him except one thing, nor need he put himself to a great expense, since the stone is one, the medicine is one, the vessel one, the rule one, the disposition one" Yet this one substance is so divided by the operation of Nature, and the skill of the Artist, that it is transmuted into our White Eagle, nor does the splendour of the sun illuminate more abundantly the spagyric matter with its beams; or, as Basilius Valentinus hath it, that, * thence is born a spirit white as srow, and another spirit red as blood, which two spirits are contained in a third hidden thing." Hence King Aros wellsays: * Our medicine is composedout of twothings havingone essence,namely, through the mercurial union of a solid and a liquid, a spiritual and a corporeal a cold and a moist,a warm anda dry, and in

no other way can it be made" — And Richard the Englishman says: * The stone is one, the medicine one, which, however, according to the philosophers, is called Rebis (Two-thing), being composed of two things, namely, a body and spirit [red or white But over this many foolish persons have gone astray, explaining it in divers ways." Rebis is two things, and these two things are one thing, namely, water joined to a body, by which the body is dissolved into a spirit, that is, mineral water, out of which it was first made; and this body and spirit make up one mineral water, which is called Elixir, that is to say, ferment; for then water and spirit are one thing, of which is composed a tincture and medicine for purging all bodies. And thus, according to the philosophers, we have the nature of sulphur and mercury above ground, while underground they become gold and silver. Bernard, Count of Trevisan and the March, says: '"* Our work is performed by means of one root, and two crude mercurial substances, drawn and extracted ífrom a mineral, pure and clear, being conjoined by the heat of friendship, as this matter requires, and carefully cooked until the two things become one thing," &c. Basilius Valentinus (Z6. JVa£. e£ Supernat., c. 4) says: * I will make this known to thee in all truth [for the love of God], that the root of philosophic sulphur, which is a heavenly spirit, is united in the same material with the root ofthe spiritual and supernatural mercury, and the principle of spiritual salt—out of which is made the Stone, and not out of several things.

"That universal thing, the greatest treasure of earthly wisdom, is one thing, and the principles of three things are found in one, which has powerto change all metals into one. The three things are the true spirit of mercury, and the soul of sulphur, united to spiritual salt, and dwelling in one body; they are dragon and eagle, king and lion, spirit and body, etc."

In this way our prepared material is also called male and female, active and passive. So Zimon says, in * The Crowd " : «* Know that the secret of the work consists in male and female, - &&.,,an active and a passive principle. In lead is found the male, in órpiment the female. The male rejoices when the female is brought to it, and the female receives from the male a tinging seed, and is coloured thereby." And Diomedes says: * Join the male child of the * red servant? to the fragrant spouse, and they will produce the object of our Art. But you must not introduce any foreign matter, neither dust, nor any other thing. The conception will then be perfect, and a true son will be born. Oh, how precious is the nature of the *red servant, without whom nothing can be effected!" — Others call it quicksilver, or mercury, and sulphur, or fire, as Roger Bacon says, in the third chapter of his * Mirror ": * Out of sulphur and mercury are all metals, and nothing adheres to them, neither is joined to them, or transmutes them, but what is of them. And thus we must accept mercury and sulphur as the matter of the stone." So also Menabadus says: * He who joins quicksilver to the body of magnesia, and the woman to the man, extracts the secret essence by which bodies are coloured." Lullius in his ** Codicil " says: "'The property of our mercury is to be coagulated by its sulphur." And, in the Practice of his Testament : ** The silver is a flowing moisture, floating above and preserving the whole from combustion."

Others use the names, body, spirit, and soul. Thus Arnold, in his * Flower of Flowers," says: * The Sages have affirmed that our Stone is composed of body, soul, and spirit, and they have spoken truly. For the imperfect part they have compared to a body, because it is weak. The water they have called spirit, and truly, because it is spirit. The ferment they have termed soul, because it gives life to the imperfect body (which before was dead), and makes its form more beautiful." Again, he says : '* A spirit is never joined to a body but by the interposition of a soul. For the soul is the medium between body and spirit, joining them together" ^ Morienus Says: he soul quickly enters its own body— but if you tried to join itto a foreign body, you would labour in vain. And Lilium Says : " Body, soul, and spirit make up one thing, which has all in itself, and to which nothing is added." But why should we mention and explain all the names by which our Matter is designated? We will be content with the foregoing, seeing that they are the most common and the most germane to our purpose. Inthe following pages, after endeavouring to find where our substance lies hid, and where it may be obtained, we will say some words about the mode of its dis-

solution, that being afterall the principal objectofour inquiry. And first, as concerns the search after our Matter, we should remember that in the beginning, when there was nothing but Himself, God, who is infinite in wisdom, created two classes of things, namely, those that are in heaven, and those that are under heaven. . The heavenly things (about which we need not here speak at length) are the heavens themselves, and the dwellers in heaven. The things that are under the heavens were created out of four elements, and are commonly divided into three classes. Those that live and feel hold the first place, and are called animals. "The second class are the plants, that grow out of the earth, but do not feel. The third class, that of the minerals, has its origin underground. These three classes include all that (beneath the moon) has been created out ofthe elements. They can never become more or less, and God has bound each thing to its own genus and species, so that it cannot change from one genus to another. If any one tried to make a man or a tree out of a stone, or a monkey or lead out of a plant, or an animal or a plant out of lead, he would be prevented from doing so by the eternal order of the Great King. Ifsucha thing were possible, all classes of natural objects could be changed into one.

But, because such a change would put an end to the world, the Ruler of the Universe does not permit it Nay, what is more, He not only restricted everything to its own kind, but gave each created thing its own seed, by which it might be propagated after its own manner—always remaining in its own class, and not overstepping the bounds of some other species. If any one wished to change a man into a horse, an apple into a lettuce, a diamond or any other jewel into gold, he would make an enormous mistake. For such an attempt would be against the nature of sublunar things. And as it was in the beginning so it shall be in the end, when the Almighty, who in the beginning said * Let it be," shall say * Let it perish." But among those things which have a common substance, seed, and elementary composition, it is not difficult to accomplish an amelioration and improvement, by the purification of their matter. So we may see a man of a clear and subtle mind attain to a higher degree of human excellence than others who are less gifted. This difference arises from the superior purity and subtlety of his spiritual substance, which again has its

origin in a rectified and well constituted body. Thus also we see one horse excel the strength and speed of another ; and it is the same with all kinds of living beings. Alike rule holds good to an even greater degree in regard to plants and trees— with trees, by transplanting, grafting, and kindred methods well familiar to gardeners ; while as to other vegetable natures, we are taught by daily experience how plants and flowers of the same kind differ from each other in glory, in beauty, in fragrance, and savour. Of this cloves and tulips afford a striking instance. Into how many different species have these flowers been developed ; and even these new developments are being made more beautiful from ' day to day, and it is universally admitted that never were there such fine and fragrant flowers before. What am I to say about metals which have a common substance, namely, quicksilver, digested and consolidated by the power of sulphur? Concerning this common substance, Richard the Englishman has the following words: * Nature has elaborated all kinds of fusible things by a natural process out of mercury, and the substance of its sulphur, because it is the property of quicksilver to be consolidated by steam, as by the heat of white and red sulphur which does not burn."

The same view is expressed by Arnold (pt. r., Gp db) * Quicksilver is the elementary form of all things fusible ; for all things fusible, when melted, are changed into it, and it mingles with them because it is of the same substance with them. Such bodies differ from quicksilver in their composition only so far as itself is or is not free from the foreign matter of impure sulphur." Similarly Rosinus (42 Saratantaz) says : * The substance of all metals in the heart of the earth is solidified and imperfect quicksilver; for by the quickening heat of sulphur different metals (according to the different varieties of sulphur) are generated in the earth ; their original substance is one and the same, and is modified only by a greater or smaller external influence." Hence we see daily how busily Nature is occupied in bringing them to mortification and perfection. Now the perfection of metals and the final intention of Nature in regard to them, is gold. For all metals shew that Nature has done something for them towards ultimate perfection ; no metal is so base as not to contain a single grainofgoldorsilver Naturewould always changequicksilver that has within itself its own sulphur into gold, if she were not often hindered by some outward impediment, viz, impure, fcetid, and combustible sulphur. In most cases gold is dug out pure, clear, free from. dross, and unmixed with any other metals But most frequently a large quantity of foreign sulphur mingles with the quicksilver, and thus prevents its perfect development ;

and, according to the variety of that sulphur, different kinds of metals are generated, as Aristotle says (4. Meteor.): *If the quicksilver be of a good substance but the sulphur impure and combustible, it changes the quicksilver into brass. If the quicksilver be stony, impure, and earthy, and the sulphur not pure, it becomes iron. Tin seems to have good and pure quicksilver; but the sulphur is bad and not well mixed. Lead has gross, bad, and ill-smelling quicksilver, and is thus not properly coagulated."

That retarding, combustible, and fcetid sulphur is not the true fire that fashions metals; but quicksilver has its own sulphur in itself, which is sufficient for the purpose of fashioning it, as Bernard, Count of Trevisan, says: ** Some believe that in the generation of metals, a sulphuric substance is introduced from without ; but, on the contrary, it is clear that in the working of Nature sulphur is already enclosed in the mercury. Yet it has no power in it except through the moving heat, by which the said sulphur is changed, and with it two other qualities of the mercury. In this way, then, Nature generates by means of this sulphur the different kinds of metals in the veins of the earth, according to the diversity of degrees and alterations" For in metals, according to Arnold (pt. L, cp. iii.), *there is a two-fold superfluity : one that is enclosed in the innermost nature of the quicksilver, and got there at the first mingling of the metal; the other does not belong to the essence of it, is external to it, and corruptible. To remove the former is a difficult task ; the latter may be removed without any difficulty. The combustible sulphur is taken away by being subjected to the action of fire, or is destroyed by foreign bodies ; but the other, which is in the quicksilver, is preserved by it from combustion." But again, that inward sulphur which fashions the quicksilver belonging to it, and matures it towards perfection, is either pure or impure, combustible or incombustible. Impure sulphur hinders the

digestion of the quicksilver, which cannot .be transformed into gold until that which does not belong to it has been entirely separated from it; but the pure, incombustible, fixed sulphur remains with it, and then at length it passes either into gold or silver, according as the sulphur is either white or red. This internal sulphur is nothing but mature mercury, and the most advanced part of the quicksilver. and for this reason the quicksilver receives it so kindly, as being of its own essence, while it rejects the other which is foreign to it. — So Richard the Englishman says, in his ninth chapter: ** The more simple the sulphur is, the more readily does it combine with simple and pure mercury, and the more intimately they combine the more precious is the metal which is produced. But such sulphur, says Avicenna, * is not found on earth, except in so far as it exists in metallic bodies through the action of the sun and moon. In the sun it exists in a perfect state, because there it is better digestedand decocted." According to Richard,in his twelfth chapter, the red sulphur of the philosophers exists in the sun on account of its greater digestion, and the white sulphur in the moon on account of its inferior digestion."

Since, then, the substance of the metals is oze, and common to all, and since this substance is (either at once, or after laying aside in course of time the foreign and evil sulphur of the baser metals by a process of gradual digestion) changed by the virtue of its own indwelling sulphur into GOLD, which is the goal of all the metals, and the true intention of Nature— we are obliged to admit, and freely confess that in the mineral kingdom, as well as in the vegetable and animal kingdoms, Nature seeks and demands a gradual attainment of perfection, and a gradual approximation to the highest standard of purity and excellence. I thought it would be best, O friendly searcher of Nature, to discuss the matter more in detail,in order that you might the more readily know and make use of the substance of our Stone ! For if you attempted to produce our Stone out of an animal substance you would fail, because the two things belong to different natural orders. For the Stone is a mineral, but you would be trying to fashion it out of an animal substance. «But nothing," saysour Richard, in his first chapter, * can be got out

ofa thing which is not in it. Therefore every species, every genus, every natural order, is naturally developed within its own limits, bearing fruit after its own kind, and not within some other essentially different order: everything in which seed is sown must correspond to its own seed." And Basil. Valentinus says : * Consider arid know, my friend, that you must not select an animal soul for this your purpose. For flesh and blood were given by the Creator to animals, and are proper to animals, and from them animals are formed and brought forth." For this reason I wonder at those who wish to be regarded as great adepts, and yet look for the substance of the stone in female menstruums, the seminal fluid, eggs, hairs, urine, and similar things, and are not ashamed to fill so many volumes with their vain and worthless recipes, and to deceive the ignorant with such foolish, futile, and useless speculations. ^ Roger, in his * Mirror" (cp. iii.), expresses his amazement at the folly of these men when he exclaims: * How strange that any sane person should look for what he wants in the animal and vegetable worlds, which have nothing whatever to do with the object of his search, while the mineral world is quite as ready to his hand. It is incredible that any philosopher should establish his art on such a remote foundation, except indeed by way of allegory." * For our Stone (says Basil.) is not made of combustible things.

Verily that Stone and the matter thereof are safe from all such violence, therefore cease to seek it in the animal kingdom ; for Nature herself could not find it there." Again, whoever hopes to find it in the vegetable world, as, for instance, in trees, herbs, flowers, is quite as much mistaken as he who would change an animal into a stonc. Plants and trees, with all that they produce, may be consumed by fire, and leave nothing behind but the dust out of which they are made, and the salt which at the first creation of their species they received from Nature. Let no one be misled by the confident assertions of those who pretend that they can produce the Philosopher's Stone out of wheat, or out of wine. "These persons fancy they understand the meaning of a certain passage in thewritings of Raymond Lullius, but they exhibit the depth of their folly by the assumption of profound wisdom, and thus only deceive themselves and others. I do not deny that some excellent solvents, indispensable both.

to the physician and to the chemist, are obtained from these sources; but I do most positively deny that the Philosopher's Stone can be prepared, or its seed elicited, from them, since the Creator has ordained that nothing should overstep the bounds of the natural order to which it was originally assigned. Hence every true disciple of wisdom may gather that the substance of the Stone is to be obtained neither in the animal nor in the vegetable world, seeing that both are combustible. We must therefore look for it among incombustible things, that is to say, in the mineral world, and thence only can we prepare it. Since, then, the Stone of the Wise is mineral, and there are different kinds of minerals, as stones (including clay and the different varieties of earth), salts, general minerals, and metals, we must further ask, in which of allthese it is contained. We may at once eliminate stones, because they contain no fusible mercury, and cannot be melted, dissolved, or divided into their component parts on account of the large quantity of foreign sulphur and earthly substance which cleave to them. Nor will the wise investigator of Nature's secrets expect to find the substance of the Blessed Stone in salts, alums, or similar minerals. In them he meets with a sharp, corroding, destructive spirit, but mercury and sulphur, as understood by philosophers, he would vainly look for. General minerals, like magnesia, bismuth, antimony, ctc, can never under any circumstances become metals; how, then, can the substance of this Stone, which is the essential perfection of all metals and minerals, be obtained from them? ^ Moreover, they have nothing in common with metals, but do burn, corrode, and destroy them :— how then can they be the means of their improvement ?

Hear what Richard the Englishman has to say on this head (cp. x): " The lesser minerals cannot become metals—First, because they were not generated out of the elementary substance of metals, which is quicksilver. But seeing that their generation differs from the generation of metals in form, and substance, and composition, they can never become metals, because things belonging to the same species have the same elementary substance,and spring from the same seed. But the lesser minerals are not generated from mercury, as we learn from Aristotle and . Avicenna, If they were to become metals, they would have to change into the elementary substance of metals. And, since such a transformation is beyond the power of chemistry, they can never become metals ; that is to say, they can never be the substance of the Stone. Second, since the lesser minerals cannot become the elementary substance of metals, which is mercury, they can never reach the middle and the end of the same development, namely, metals and the tincture. — But because the properties of the lesser minerals are foreign to those of the metals, although they may have some of the virtues of minerals, yet on the whole they are less excellent and are liable to be injured by fire. Therefore the nature of metals delights not in them, but repels them, while it receives that which is suited to it. For this reason they are foolish who bring in so many foreign speculations for the purpose of imposing upon their hearers ; for the things they put forward are altogether unlike metals and can never receive nor impart their nature."

The student must not suffer himself to be misled by the language occasionally employed with regard to salts by the philosophers whom we have quoted, as, for instance, when it is said, in the mystic language of our Sages, * He who works without salt will never raise dead bodies"; or, again, when he reads in the book of Soliloquies,* He who works without salt draws a bow without a string." ^ For you must know that these sayings refer to a very different kind of salt from the common mineral. This you may see from the following passage of the * Rosary of the Philosophers": * The salt of metals is the Philosopher's Stone; for our Stone is water congealed in gold and silver; it is hostile to fire and may be dissolved into the water of which it is composed after its kind." And that the *congealed water " of the Sages does not mean ordinary water may be gathered from the following words of Geber (lib. forn, cp. xix.): *Seek to resolve the sun and the moon into their dry water, which the vulgar call mercury." The Sages have also described their earth under the name of salt—e,g., in the * Sounding of the Trumpet, where it is said: * That which is left at the bottom of the distilling vessel is our salt—that is to say, our earth." — And in the * Allegories of the Wise " one bursts forth into these words : * Mark well that those bodies which flow forth from our bodies are salts and alums" At times they call the medicine itself

* Salt," as in the following passage ofthe * Scale": ' The virtue of the second water is to exalt earth into its own mineral salt, as though assimilating it by its own strength." And Arnold, in his work concerning the * Preservation of Youth," (lib. iii) says: * "This prepared salt has great virtue in preserving youth. — The Sages have compared it to the natural heat of healthy youth. The Stone itself has sometimes been called by the wise the Animal Stone, sometimes the Mineral Secret, on account of this similitude ; sometimes the Everlasting Remedy, or the Water of Life. The whole preparation may be reduced to the purest drinking water, like other things that have the same properties. From the aforesaid it clearly appears that we are forbidden both by the teaching of the Sages and by the nature of the thing to suppose that the Stone can be made out of the lesser minerals. We should next enquire more carefully whether the matter of our Stone may be obtained from the intermediate minerals— like bismuth, antimony, magnesia, and so on. They are certainly often mentioned in this connection by the Sages. — Thus Senior says,in a certain passage: *If yellow orpiment has not the power of coagulating mercury our Magistery can never attain its goal." Thomas de Aquinas recommends us to take *our antimony, or black earth," while Parmenides, in * The Crowd," says :

* Take quicksilver and coagulate it in the body of magnesia, or corruptible sulphur." But in all such passages these terms are used metaphorically ; it is not meant that the Great Stone can ever be made out of such substances. "The orpiment and magnesia of the Sages are not the common minerals, but the substance which in other passages is called the Agent, the Lion, the King, Sulphur, and by many other names. They call it orpiment because it gives a deeper and more brilliant colouring to gold ; magnesia because of the excellence and greatness of that which is gained from it ; antimony, with Thomas Aquinas, on account of the brilliant blackness which it assumes after solution. As a matter of fact, when the Stone has assumed its ebony colour they are in the habit of comparing it to all black things.

But it may be said that some of these intermediate minerals are, as a matter of fact, composed of mercury and sulphur, and may become metals, £2., magnesia unites with lead and tin, and : antimony not only mingles with metals, but also produces a lead not very different from natural lead. Moreover, it is asserted that many persons of high and low degree have actually seen gold made of these minerals. It is further said that as these minerals are composed of mercury and sulphur (and can by chemical means be reduced to them), and are thercfore of a common origin with the metals, the substance of the Stone may also be elicited from them. But, in the first place, we must draw a distinction between the various minerals of this class, namely those which contain mercury, and those which hardly ever contain it. "Those that are full of mercury are of greater account, since, by means of our Medicine, their mercury may be transformed into gold and silver; and, their nature being partly metallic, they may well be called half metals. But the rest, which have no mercury, are of no use for our purpose. But forasmuch as, on account of the gross and combustible sulphur which is in them, even the first are very far indeed from the metallic goal, so they cannot be taken for the substance of our Stone, which should be pure and perfect mercury combined with pure, subtle, and incombustible sulphur.

That they are most impure and deeply infected with the grossness of their sulphur, may be easily seen by the test of a chemical experiment. One of them (zinetum) might, by reason of its weight and brilliance, be taken at first sight for pure mercury by the careless ; but when brought to the test of fire it is consumed with a smoke, like that of sulphur. Bismuth, on the other hand, is not even fusible by fire—such is its earthy grossness and impurity. Antimony, again, can be purged by a chemical process, and reduced to a very white and beautiful regulus. As we gaze upon it in this purified state, 1t seems difficult to believe that it may not be transformed into something glorious. ^ Hence it is natural that some self-conceited people should have supposed that the Stone may be prepared from it. But however much antimony is purged of its blackness, it still retains its grossness, hardness, and sulphuric properties ; it can never become malleable (like the metals), and therefore, in spite of its numerous affinities, cannot be regarded as a metal. Moreover, it has gross and impure mercury ; and its sulphur is combustible. Ye, then, who would be great philosophers and do deceive many with your voluminous writings,

in which you put this mineral forward as the essence of the universal remedy—l ask you again and again to reconsider your opinion, and to mark the saying of Arnold, that "it is foolish to seek in a thing that which it does not contain. He also says, in his Commentary on * The Crowd": * The philosopher's stone is a pure substance. Again, Lullius in his * Last Testament," observes : '* Our tincture is nothing but pure fire.^ There is an expression to the same effect in his * Vade Mecum": *It is a subtle spirit which tinges bodies, and cleanses them of their leprous infirmities." But this mineral (like all the rest, without a single exception) is so gross and impure that it can only be cleansed by the mediation of our tincture. — Therefore, the substance of our Great Stone cannot be elicited from it, since (Richard, cp. tr.) nothing can be obtained from a body which does not exist therein. What shall we say of vitriol which misleads many by its wonderful qualities, especially as some part of it changes into copper, and itself has the power of transforming iron into copper? Asa matter of fact, it is the elementary substance of copper, and when this mineral vapour (or aeriform mercury) finds in the mineral veins of the earth a place where its bitter, acid, salt, and venereal sulphur lies hid, it immediately amalgamates with it into a metal.

But since the quantity of the aforesaid sulphur greatly exceeds that of the mercury, when the pure is separated from the impure, and the combustible from the incombustible by the segregating office of Nature, the mercury itself is changed into a greenish inferior substance. When common sulphur is added to copper, and the whole brought in contact with fire (for art can do by intense heat in a few moments what it takes the gentle heat of Nature a long time to accomplish) it corrodes the copper, and changes it into vitriol, and, in proportion to the quantity of the sulphur, the vitriol assumes a richer or fainter colour ; whence it comes that some vitriol contains more copper and some less. In iron, too, there is gross sulphur ; hence it is corroded by vitriol which seeks its mercury (the mercury of iron being very like that of vitriol), and (the mercury being joined to the sulphur) the iron becomes pure copper.

. It should be carefully noticed that the acid spirit of vitriol 15 generated from sulphur ; for the smell of sulphur is perceived in the spirit of vitriol, and the spirit of sulphur, like the spirit of vitriol, has power to change into vitriol. Since, then, this corrosive sulphur is hid in vitriol,and since it contains so small a quantity of impure mercury, we may be sure that it cannot be the object of our search. In this we agree with Alphidius, who says: * Take heed, my son, and eschew dead bodies, and stones ; in these things there is no true way of procedure, for their life preserves not, but destroys. Such are salts, orpiments, arsenic, magnesia, bismuth, tutty, and the like ^ And Arnold (Flos Flor.) says: * The reason of these mistakes is that thc four spirits, viz, orpiment, salt of ammonia, mercury, and sulphur, are not the seed of perfect or imperfect metals (except, of course, mercury and sulphur by themselves)." But from these last words of Arnold it might be inferred that common mercury and quicksilver are the substance of the stone, seeing that these are referred to the four spirits, and that sulphur is supposed to consolidate the mercury. But I answer, with Richard the Englishman, in his eleventh chapter, that it does not really do so. For every kind of common sulphur is repugnant to metals, as the Sage says: ** Indeed you must know that sulphur comes forth out of the fatness of the earth, and is thickened in the minera by gentle heat ; when it becomes hard it is ca//ed sulphur."

Now there are two kinds of sulphur, the living and the combustible. Quick sulphur is the active principle of metals, and, when purged from all foreign matter, is the Matter of our Stone. But the common combustible variety is not the Matter of metals or of our Stone ; rather, it is injurous to them. Common, combustible sulphur—so we are told by Avicenna and Richard the Englishman—has nothing to do with our art. However carefully prepared, it still disintegrates and destroys metals, because it has no affinity with them. When enclosed in metals, it retards their fusion. This is clearly seen in the case of iron, which contains hard, gross, and impure sulphur. When this sulphur is burned it is nothing but a dead, earthy, powdery substance. How then can it impart life to other things? For it has two principles of decay—its inflammability and its earthy impurity. The sulphur of the Sages, on the other hand, is living fire; it is quick, and quickens and matures lifeless 42/7 2C B D Y LY AM E 27 substances. Common sulphur, then, cannot be the substance of the Stone. But what shall we infer concerning common mercury ? The Sages tell us tbat the Matter of our Stone is a mercurial substance, and many of its qualities closely resemble those of vulgar mercury. For it is the elementary substance of all fusible minerals, as Arnold says (Ros., pt. L, cp. ii) :

* Since all fusible substances, when melted, are changed into it, and it mingles with them because of its common nature: they can differ from it only in so far as it contains impure foreign sulphur. And, again (cp. iv.): * Living mercury is clearly most perfect, and proved in all its operations, since it saves from combustion and promotes fusion. It is the red tincture, the sum of perfection, and quick as lightning ; nor is it severed from that with which it has mingled so long as it exists. The same is full of affinity, cleaving faithfully, and is the medium by which tinctures are united, for it mingles most intimately with them, penetrating naturally into their inmost part, for it is of the same nature. We imitate Nature exactly, who in her minera hath no other matter whereon she works except a pure mercurial form. It is the only thing that overcomes fire, and is not overcome by it, but delights in its amicable warmth." Again, Bernard says: *In this mercury is enclosed essential sulphur, which the fire cannot touch ; and it accomplishes our object without any other substance than that of pure mercury." Seeing, then, that mercury has such excellent properties, it must surely be the substance of our Stone? True; but as there are two kinds of sulphur, so there are two kinds of mercury, the common mercury and the mercury of the Sages.

Common mercury is gross and crude ; nor does it stand the test of fire like our mercury, but is dissipated in the form of smoke, even by gentle heat. Hence the Sages have laid down this rule: * Our mercury is not the mercury of the vulgar herd." So Lullius says (Slav op " Common quicksilver, however carefully prepared, can never become the quicksilver of the Sages, for common quicksilver can only stand the test of fire by the aid of some other dry and more highly digested quicksilver. ^ But most students of this art have spoken largely about the sublimation of common mercury, and have persisted in seeking the treasure of earthly

wisdom where it cannot be found, because Nature has not placed it there. And, truly, the working even of common mercury is so wonderful that it has misled some who supposed themselves to be adepts in this art. The following is a case in point. I knew a man who.succeeded in giving to his amalgam an orange colour, but he could not get it any nearer to the colour of gold. At last this clever chemist determined to increase the heat of the furnace, thinking that this would have the desired effect of more intimately combining the various ingredients. But alas! the alembic burst, the gold was hurled into the fire, and almost changed from its nature by the still volatile mercury. Hence it appears that the mercury (which is its body) so strongly affected the gold in its minutest particles as to reduce it to a tincture, although several colours were obtained by the action of the heat on the melted mass. If that good man had taken to heart Arnold's words in the * Flower of Flowers," he would never have made that experiment. For the said Arnold makes reference to those who adopt this method in the following terms : * They knew that mercury is the elementary principle of the metals, and that they are produced through its digestion by - the heat of sulphur ; they therefore sublimed mercury by itself, then fixed and consolidated it, again melted it and did again coagulate it: but when they came to examine the alembic, they found no gold, etc." Therefore we cannot believe that common quicksilver is the substance ofthe Stone. At the same time I do not deny that it is indispensable both to the philosophical chymist and to the physician.

We have carefully sought the substance of our stone in the animal and vegetable world, among stones, lesser, intermediate, and greater minerals, but in vain. We must now see whether we can find it in the metals, and if so, whether in all or only in some. It is a well-known fact (to which Roger bears witness, Spec., cp. iii.), that all metals are generated outof sulphur and quicksilver, and that nothing will become one with them, or change.them, but what originates in themselves ; since a thing can be developed and improved only by that which belongs to its own nature (Richard, cp. i.). I need not say that the Great Artist has ordained that throughout the whole of Nature things should generate and produce only that which is like them, so that, for instance, a horse can never be the offspring of a man. * As brute animals," says Basil Valentine, **cannot multiply after their kind by way of generation except by virtue of their common nature ; so you cannot expect to obtain the Blessed Stone, but out of its own seed, out of which it was made from the beginning. Now to find the. seed you should diligently consider for what purpose you require the Store. You will at once see that it can be obtained only from the metallic root from which God has ordained that the metals themselves should be generated. Moreover, there is a great conformity between the generation of the metals and the Stone.

For in both sulphur and quicksilver (containing that salt which is their quickening soul) are indispensably required ; nor can any useful metal be generated until these three (making up the metallic substance) have been combined ; for in the composition of metals there must be nothing which has not been obtained from a metallic source" * No external thing, says Draco, ** which is not derived from these two [sulphur and mercury]has power to produce or transmute metals. On this account we must select a metallic substance for the production of the Stone" We must next briefly enquire whether it is to be found in imperfect metals. Many imagine that the substance of the white (tincture) may be elicited from tin or lead, and that of the red out of copperoriron,orboth. This idea is doubtless owing to a misconception of the words of the Sages. For Geber (lib. forn. cp. ix.) says : * The mass for fermentation we generally gain from the imperfect [base] bodies" Therefore we lay it down as a general rule that the white paste may be extracted from Jupiter and Saturn, the red from Venus, Saturn,and Mars. And Basil. Valentinus says (Lib. de phys. et hyperphys.), that the tincture Is prepared out of a conjunction of Mars and Venus. Acain (Triumph. Antimon.), he uses these words : * After this tincture of the Sun and Moon comes the tincture of Venus and Mars

which two make up the tincture of the Sun, when they have been thoroughly perfected and condensed. After these come the tinctures of Jupiter and of Saturn (for the coagulation of mercury) and at last the tincture of mercury itself." But the searcher of Nature must know that there can be no contradiction of opinion between Geber or Basil, for it is impossible that the true philosophers should ever lie, and so these words should be parabolically understood. For no perfection can be obtained from imperfect metals, either by themselves or mixed, nor can that which is itself imperfect bring other things to perfection. For the purest substance of mercury is required for our purpose, as is testified in the * Sounding of the Trumpet," and by Avicenna, Lullius, and almost all the Sages, who unanimously affirm that "the purest substance of mercury is selected by us for our work." Now this highly refined substance of mercury is not found in the base metals, since they are rendered so gross by their impure and unessential sulphur, that, like leprous bodies, they can never be thoroughly purged and cleansed, in which process is the essence of our artifice. Nor do they well stand the test of fire, which is one of the properties required in our Matter. Let us hear what Geber has to tell us (Summa, cp. Ixiii.) concerning the impurity of imperfect metals, and the properties of perfect mercury :

* Thus," hesays, * we happen upon two most wonderful secrets. The one is that there exists a twofold cause for the destruction of every [imperfect] metal by fire : namely, (1), the combustible sulphur enclosed in their interior substance is kindled by fierce heat, and (unimpeded by any excellence in their mercury) annihilates, and converts into smoke their entire substance; (2), the outward flame is fed by them, penetrates into their interior, and dissolves them into smoke, even though they be very solid ; (3), their interior is laid bare by calcination. Now when all these conditions of destruction are found together, bodies must needs be destroyed ; if they are not found together, they are destroyed somewhat more slowly. "The second secret is the excellence which quicksilver imparts to bodies. Forquicksilver (no other condition of decay being present) does not permit itself to be separated into its elements, but proves its perfection by preserving its substance intact inthefire. Blessed be God who created it, and gave it such a substance and such properties as are not found in all Nature besides. This is that which overcomes fire, and delights in its amicable heat" Here Geber clearly shews that the substance of our Stone cannot exist in imperfect metals; because things that are impure in themselves do not abide the fire which might purify them, while our mercury (on account of its purity) is not in the slightest degree

injured by the fire. Thus we perceive that no one imperfect metal can contain the substance of our Stone. But neither is it to be found in a mixture of impure metals—for by mixing they become less pure than they were before. Moreover we said above that the. substance we required was oze. his fact is clearly set forth by Halys (lib. secret., cp. vi), when he says: « The Stone is One ; nothing else must be added to it: out of one substancc the Sages obtain our remedy. Nothing else must mingle with the Stone itself, or with its substance. And Morienus says: * This Magistery grows from one original root, which branches out into several parts, and from which springs one thing." But if base metals cannot be the substance of the Stone, why do the Sages bid us employ them? I will tell you. When they speak of impure bodies, they do not mean copper, iron, lead, tin, &c., but its own Zody, or its earth—as Arnold (Flos Flor.) says: * Mercury is united to earth, Ze, to an imperfect substance [or body]" For though this * earth " is so perfect and pure that in these respects it would seem to attain the utmost possibility of Nature, yet in regard to the Stone it is still imperfect and impure. In this point art leaves Nature behind, since it accomplishes what Nature could not perform. That this.

earth before its plenary purgation and regeneration is imperfect, may be seen from the fact that it cannot yet accomplish more in the matter of tinging than Nature has given to it, while after its regeneration it is most powerful [Its grossness is clearly perceived in an actual experiment : for first it is black and looks like lead or antimony ; then it is of a whitish colour, and is called Jupiter (or tin, or magnesia), and this also before it has attained true whiteness, but when it has passed the white stage, itis called Mars and Venus; after that it becomes perfect and red. That Basil Valentinus agrees with me, and did not really hold the opinion which he expressed in some of his writings, is clear from his tract concerning the Great Stone, where (speaking of the Matter of the Stone) he says that in the Sun all three perfections are found together, whence it derives its power of resisting the fire, and that the Moon, on account of its fixed mercury, does not easily yield to the fire, but endures the trial. *' That noble paramour Venus," he continues, '*is

furnished with an abundance of colour, and the greater and richer part of her body is full of tincture. The colour is the same which dwells in the most precious of metals, and on account of its abundance has a reddish appearance. But its body is leprous, for which reason the tincture cannot remain fixed in it, but evaporates when the former is destroyed. For when the body decays the soul cannot remain, but is dissipated and driven off. Its habitation is destroyed and burnt with fire, and its place knows it no more. In a fixed body it would without difficulty remain. The fixed 'salt' gives to brave Mars a hard, strong, and heavy body ; whence the strength of his soul is perceived: for this warrior is not easily overcome. For his body is hard and difficult to wound." But let no one conclude from these words of Basilius that that fixed sulphur of Venus, when united to the spirit of perfect mercury, will become the tincture. We must again repeat that our substance is not collected from many sources; but, as Basilius says, it is oze universal thing, and is found in, and obtained from one thing, being the spirit of mercury, the soul ofsulphur, and a spiritual salt, united under one heaven and dwelling in one body. Therefore let us turn our backs upon the base metals, and turn our minds to the precious metals, taking to heart those words of Plato (qu.

ii): * Why do you melt and dissolve other bodies with great labour, when in these [the precious metals] you have what you seck? If you wish to use the base metals, you must first change them into the substance of perfect bodies." Therefore, beloved inquirer into the secrets of Nature, leave on one side all things animal and vegetable, all salts, alums, vitriols, bismuths, magnesias, antimonies, and all base and impure metals, and seek thy Stone with Arnold de Vill. nov. (Pt. L, cp.vii.): *in Mercury and the Sun for the Sun, and in Mercury and the Moon for the Moon; since the whole virtue of this art consists in them alone" * For as the source of ignition is fire, so gold is the principle of gold making," says Ripley, in his * First Gate." If, therefore, thou wouldest make gold and silver by the philosopher's art, take for this purpose neither eggs, nor blood, but gold and silver, which, being subjected to the action of fire naturally, prudently, and not manually, generate new substances after their own kind,

-— n ———————I HPV" Can ion a ne like all things in Nature. Richard (cp. x.)tells us" to sow gold and silver, that aided by our labour they may bring forth fruit, through the mediation of Nature: for these two have [and are] what you seek and nothing else in all the world." And why should I not fix on them since they contain pure and perfect mercury, with red and white sulphur. (Richard,cp. xvii) So Avicenna teaches that, * in all silver is white, as in all gold there is red, sulphur. No other sulphur like that which exists in these bodies is found on allthe earth. Therefore we cunningly prepare these two bodies, that we may have sulphur and quicksilver of the same substance as that which generates gold and silver under the earth. For they are shining bodies, whose rays tinge other bodies with true whiteness and redness, according to the manner of their own preparation." * For our Magistery," says, Arnold (Rosar, pt. Ll, cp. v.) "aids perfect bodies, and works upon the imperfect without the admixture ofanything else. Gold, then, being the most precious of all the metals, is the red tincture, tinging and transforming every body. Silver is the white tincture, tinging other bodies with its perfect whiteness." Let me tell the gentle reader that the metals, that is to say, gold and silver in their metallic form, are not the Matter of our Stone—being in the middle between them and the base metals, as our Matter is in the middle between the former and our Great Stone.

So Bernard says (pt.ii): * Let them be silent who affirm that there is any tincture but our own, or any other sulphur than that which lies hid in magnesia ; also those who would extract the quicksilver from any but the red slave, and who speak of some other water but our own which is incorruptible and combines with nothing except that which belongs to its own nature, and moistens [tinges] nothing except that which is one with its own nature. There is no acid but our own, no other regimen, no other colours. In the same way, there is no other true solution, sublimation, consolidation, putrefaction. | therefore advise you to have done with alums, vitriols, salts, black bodies, borax, aqua fortis, herbs, animals, beasts, and all that proceeds from them, hairs, blood, urine, human seed, flesh, eggs, and all minerals, and to keep to the metals. But though the quicksilver required for our Stone is found in metals only, and in these is the beginning of the work, they

are not therefore our Stone, so long. as they retain their metallic form. For one and the same substance cannot have two forms. How can they be the Stone which holds an intermediate form between metals and mercury, unless their present form is first destroyed and removed ?" Therefore, also, Raymond Lully says in his * Testament" (cp. vi): * On this account a good artist takes metals for his media in the work of the magistery, and especially the Sun and Moon, because in them the substance of the Mercury and Sulphur is ripened, pure, and well-digested by Nature's own artifice, ^ The artist would vainly endeavour to produce this exact proportion out of the natural elements, if he did not find it ready to his hand in these bodies" ^ And in the * Codicil" he says: * Without these two, viz, gold and silver, our art would have no existence, since the sulphur they contain has been purified by nature with a thoroughness such as art would vainly strive to imitate. From these two bodies, with their prepared sulphur [or prepared arsenic] our Medicine may be elicited, but without them we can never obtain it." In the preface to his * Key" he says: * [ advise you, my friends, to operate on nothing but the Sun and Moon ; but these you should resolve into their elementary subtances, viz, our quicksilver and our sulphur." In like manner Arnoldus assures us that *from these bodies there is extracted an exceedingly white and red sulphur;

for in these there is a most pure substance of sulphur, cleansed to the highest degree by Nature's own artifice." ^ Nicarus, in * The Crowd," says: *I bid. you take gold, which you desire to multiply and renew, and to divide its water into two parts ; for that metal falling into that water will be called the fermenting matter of gold." How can this Sage call his * water" gold? To - assist the student in solving this enigma I must tell him that the gold of the Sages is not common gold, as also Senior tells us. In *The Crowd" it is said : * As mercury is the element of all metals, so gold is their ultimate goal; hence in all metals, pure and impure, there are gold,silver, and mercury. But there is one true gold which is the essence of all? ^ Thus you see that there is a gold of the Sages, which, though derived from common gold, is yet very different from it. The following words occur in the * Rising Dawn" (cp. xvi) * The philosopher's gold resembles common

i oc m PEE gold neither in colour nor in substance. That which is extracted from it is the red and white tincture." * The philosopher's gold may be bought at a low price " (Aphidius). * All that is bought at a high price is false. With little gold we buy much (Morienus). Moreover, our gold is living gold, and our silver is living silver, so that they can cause nothing but life and growth. Common gold and silver are dead, They can effect nothing until they are raised from the dead and quickened by the Sage. Then they live, and possess in a high degree the power of propagating and multiplying their race. Concerning the life of our metals that great philosopher, Sendivogius (who is still living), has the following words : * Let me advise you not to receive the gold and silver of the vulgar herd, for they are dead. Take our living metals. Place them in our fire, and there will result a dry liquid. First, earth will be resolved into water [for thus the Mercury of the Sages is called. That water will solve gold and silver, and consume them until only the tenth part with one part is left. This will be tbe humid radical of the metals."

It is to be noted that Sages sometimes call their water, as wellas their earth, gold. Hereunto we have already heard the words of Nicarus, and after a like manner we are told in the " Rosary of the Philosophers : * Our gold and silver are not the gold and silver of the vulgar. We call gold the water which rises into the air when exposed to fire. Verily, this gold is not the gold of the vulgar. The vulgar would not believe of zZezz gold that it could be volatilised on account of its solid nature." The philosopher's *earth," then, is sometimes designated their gold, as the same author testifies: * Know that our ore, which is the gold of the philosophers, is their earth." This "earth" is also called ore, ferment, or tincture ; just as the " water" is called white and flaky *earth" ^ So we read in the " Sounding of the Trumpet ": * Wherefore Hermes says, * Sow your gold in white, flaky earth which by calcination has been made glowing, subtle, and volatile That is to say : Sow gold, 2.e., the soul and quickening virtue, into the white earth, which by preparation has been made white and pure and freed from all Its grossness. "Thus natural gold is not the fermenting matter, but the philosopher's goldis thequickening ferment itself." Again, in the Seventh Step of the * Ladder of the Philosophers " : * Their

earth is white in which their gold [which is the soul]is sown, and this body is the centre of knowledge, the concentration thereof, and the habitationspf tinctures" Once more: * Therefore Hercules says; 'Solve the body of magnesia which has become white and like the leaves of the bramble. This is the body ; the soul is the esssence which is called the philosopher's gold." (For with water the spirit ascends into the upper air.) * Mix," says Senior, *gold with gold, that is water [mercury] and ashes)" Again, Hermes says: *Sow gold into the white flaky earth." From these expressions, however obscurely worded, it is clear that our gold is not common gold. But why do the philosophers call their gold now * water," and now *earth"? Do they not contradict themselves, or each other? No; our Sages, in expounding tbe truth, veil it under obscure and allegorical expressions, but nevertheless agree with each other so marvellously that they allseem to speak, as it were, with one mouth. "They do not confound one thing with another, nor do they wish to lead the earnest enquirer astray. They express themselves in mystic phrases to hide the truth from the unworthy and impious, lest they should seem to be casting pearls before s:ine, and giving: the holy thing to be trodden underfoot by these who think only of indulging their lustful desires. But the noble student of our art has been told more than once, not only from what quarter our Stone may be obtained, but also that its substance must be cze, which by the artist's skill may be resolved into two, viz., earth and fire, or mercury and sulphur.

The Sages, then, do well to call their gold earth or water ; for they have a perfect right to term it whatever they like. So they have frequently called their Stone their gold, their superperfect gold, their regenerate gold, and by many other names besides. If any one does not perceive their meaning at the first glance, he must blame his own ignorance, not their jealousy. The reader now knows that the substance of our Stone is neither animal nor vegetable, and that it does not belong to the minerals or the base metals, but that it must be extracted from gold and silver, and that our gold and silver are not the vulgar, dead gold and silver, but the living gold and silver of the Sages. We must now say something about the mode of solution, as the greatest arcanum of all, and the root of the matter. A solution takes place when we transform a dry thing into a liquid, a hard thing into a soft, a hidden thing into one that is manifest, z.e., when a solid is changed into water ; not, however, the vulgar water (as Parmenides and Agadmon in * The Crowd " teach us: * When some persons hear of the liquefaction, they think a change takes place into the water of the clouds. But if they had read and understood our books, they would know that our water is permanent), but into the water of the Sages, Ze., the elementary substance, as Arnold (Ros.

I., cp. ix.) says: * The object of the Sages is to dissolve the Stone into its mercury, or elementary matter" And Avicenna says: * Thou who wouldest attain our object must first endeavour to dissolve and sublime the two luminaries, which is the first stage of the experiment, that they may become quicksilver, ^ Therefore Arnold (Ros. II, cp. ii.) describes the solution as a resolving of bodies, and a preparation ofthe first Matter or Nature. And Richard the Englishman (cp. xviii.) writes thus : * First the Stone must be resolved into its elementary substance [seeing that it is an union of body and spirit], that the two may become one mercurial water." But even as this first solution is the most vital part of our process, so is it also the most difficult, as Eobold Vogelius testifies when he says : * How hard this achievement is can be affirmed by those who have performed it" Bernard of Trevisan, in his book addressed to Thomas of Bononia, says: * He who knows the secret of the sclution is acquainted with the arcanum of the Art, which is, to mingle kinds, and effectually to extract elements from elements which lie hid in them." — The solution must not be made with aqua fortis ; for aqua fortis corrodes and destroys the body which should be only liquefied and improved. The solution does not take place into any water that wets the hands, but into a dry water, which is called both sulphur and mercury, as Zneumo says (Turba):

*Unless by resolving it into its elements you extract from the body its marrow, and make it an impalpable spirit, you labour in vain." And Richard the Englishman, following Avicenna, affirms (cp. xi): * The Sages have striven to discover how those sulphurs may be extracted from those more perfect bodies, and how their qualities may be so refined by Art, that that which was not manifest before (although

it always lay hid in them) may appear by the mediation of the said Art with Nature. And thisthey confess cannot be done unless the body be resolved into its First Matter, which is quicksilver, out of which it was made in the beginning, without admixture of any outward things ; since foreign matter cannot improve the nature of our Stone. **For no water," says Bernard, ** dissolves our bodies, but that which is of their kind, and may be inspissated by them." (Ep. to Thom. of Bonon) And in the same Epistle he writes : * The solution should be permanent, so that from both elements, viz, the male and female seed, a new species may result. Amen, I say unto you that no natural water can dissolve metals, except that which is always in them substantially and formally, and which the metals themselves, being dissolved, may again consolidate." ^ Thus Morfoleus, in * 'The Crowd " says: * Every body is dissolved with the spirit that is joined to it, and doubtless also becomes spiritual. ^ And every spirit is modified and coloured by bodies, to which spirit is thus added a tinging colour which stands the test of fire." Hence the student of our art must diligently enquire what that water is. * For the knowledge of the menstruum;," says Raymond (Comp. An., p.i.) *isathing without which nothing can be done in the magisteryof this Art. Nothing preserves the metals while it dissolves them, but our menstruum," which, as he further states in his 'Codicilj is *the water by which the metals are ' solved, while all their essential properties are conserved." Though this is the Great Arcanum which our Sages have always kept secret, and have forbidden us to reveal, yet, as far as we may, we will put you on the right track by two quotations.

The first is found in the abridged Rosary, and runs as follows: * The first preparation and foundation of this Art, is the solution [ze., reduction] of the body into water, Ze., into quicksilver, and this they call the solution, when they say : Let the gold be dissolved, which is hid in the body of magnesia, that it may be reduced to its First Matter, that thence it may become sulphur and quicksilver, and not be again liquefied into water. The object of our solution is to make it liquid, and resolve it into the substance of . quicksilver that the saltness of its sulphur may be diminished, which divine sulphur is prepared by extraction from two sulphurs, when the spirit meets the body." The second quota-

tion is from the ** Prooemium of the Twelve Gates, by Ripley : * [ will straightway teach thee that thou mayest know that there are three mercuries, which are the keys of knowledge [which Raymond calls his menstrua], without which nothing is properly done. But two of them are superficial The third is of the essence of the Sun and Moon, the properties of which I will describe to thee. For mercury, the essence of other metals, is the principal substance of our Stone. In Gold and Silver our menstrua are not visible to the eye, and are only perceived by their effect. This is the Stone of which we speak, if anyone understand our books aright. It is the soul and shining substance of the Sun and Moon, that subtile influence from which the earth derives its splendour. For what are gold and silver (says Avicenna) but pure red and white earth? Take away from it the aforesaid splendour, and it will be nothing but worthless earth. The whole compound we call our lead. The quality of splendour comes from the Sun and Moon. And, in brief, these are our solvents. Perfect bodies we naturally calcine with the first, without adding any impure body but oxe, commonly called by philosophers the green lion, and this is the medium for perfectly combining the tinctures of theSunand Moon. With the second, which is a vegetable liquid, reviving what before was dead, the two principles [both material and formal] must be solved ;

else they would be of little value. "With the third, which is a permanent, incombustible liquid, of unctuous quality, the tree of Hermes is burnt to ashes. This is our natural, most sure fire, our mercury, our sulphur, our pure tincture, our soul,our Stone raised with the wind, born in the earth. These things take to heart. This Stone, I dare to tell thee, is the powerful essence of the metal, and thou must be careful how thou dost obtain it. For this solvent is invisible, although with the secondary philosophic water it may, by the separation of elements, become visible in the form of pure water. Out of this solvent, and with it, thou mayst obtain the sulphur of Nature, if it be naturally turned into a pure spirit. Then thou mayst with it dissolve thy fundamental mass [Ze. gold and silver]."

In these two quotations the whole mystery of the solution is revealed. If you will consider the properties and powers of .Nature, and compare them with these words, and annihilate all the workings of Nature (Ze. reduce them, and unroll them like the thread of a skein), you will find in them all truth plainly and fundamentally. But if you cannot gather from them where are the bolted gates, and do not know the substance and the powers of Nature, you shall be conducted to them, not by contemptuous self-conceit, but by ardent prayer and indefatigable study. For (by the revelation of the great and good God) I have attained this Art only by persevering application, vigils, and repeated reading of authentic books. I do not speak of the matter—that was made known to me by the revelation of God alone; but I have by study discovered the secret of its solution, which is the same with ancient and modern Sages, and the true arcanum of the Art, in the absence of which neither past nor present Philosophers could have performed anything, whence it is a secret of Art and an arcanum of wisdom which no one but God must reveal, for which benefit I give undying thanks with heart and lips to the Creator of all things, world without end, Amen.

That you may have no cause to complain of me, gentle reater, I will, however, for the love of God, expound to you another mystery. You are to know that, although the solution is one, yet in it there may be distinguished a first, and a second, as they say in the schools. The irs solution is that of which Arnold speaks in the above quotation, vzz., the reduction of it to its First Matter; the secozd is that perfect solution of body and spirit at the same time, in which the solvent and the thing solved always abide together, and with this solution of the body there takes place simultaneously a consolidation of the spirit. Here you may clearly and plainly see with your eyes what you have long desired to see. If you understand it, it is mere child's play ; therefore, I will forbear to speak any further about it. If you know the beginning, the end will duly follow by the help of God, from whom alone we may obtain all glory, the corruptible glory of this world, and that eternal glory in which with glorified bodies we shall see God face to face—despising all mundane pleasure that we may behold with our own eyes that eternal, infinite, and unspeakable joy of heaven.

With these words I will conclude my little tract. Everything else that remains to be said I will set forth in the following parable, where you will find the entire system and practice clearly expounded. If you duly follow it, you will doubtless . attain to the true.wisdom. May it be shewn to you, and to all good men, by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Blessed for evermore ! The thing is one in number, and one essence, which Nature strives to transform, but with the help of Art, into two, and twice two: mercury and sulphur impart nourishment to themselves. Spirit, and soul, and body, and four elements: the fifth which they furnish is the Philosophers Stone. Select your substance without guile, let it be double, and let its splendour be of pure mercury. Take sulphur free from every foreign substance, and consume it in a fiery furnace. But when you put it together again, let it still be of the same weight. "Then I will believe that you are upon the road of the mystery. When you have dissolved, quickly sublime it. Pound what you obtain, and ceaselessly distil it. Then endeavour to condense it, and continue to expose it to heat ^ After this begin to "*tinge" largely. You have the panacea of men, and the sum of the metals, and you shall be able to cure whomsoever and whatsoever you please.

Here follows a. Parable in which the Mystery of the whole Matter 2s Declared. Once upon a time, when I was walking abroad in a wood, and considering the wretchedness of this life, and deploring that through the lamentable fall of our first parents we had been reduced to this pitiable state, I suddenly found myself upon a rough, untrodden, and .impracticable path, which was beset with briars. Then I was afraid, and strove to retrace my steps. But it was not in my power to do so ; for so violent a tempest blew upon me from behind that it was easier to take ten steps forward than to take one backward. So I had to hurry forwàrd, and follow the rugged path up and down hill After a while, I reached a beau- tiful meadow, surrounded with heavy-laden fruit trees, which the : inhabitants of the place called the Meadow of Happiness. There I met a crowd of decrepit men with grey beards, one of whom, an elderly personage, had a long darkish beard, whom also I knew by name, but whose face I had never seen. These men were discusssing various subjects, c.g., the goodness and wisdom of God, all natural objects, and especially the great mystery which lies hid in Nature, which —they said—-God conceals from the whole world, and makes known only to a few who truly love Him. I listened to them for a long time (for I was pleased with their discourse) till I thought that some were talking rather wildly, not in regard to the substance and the method, but as concerns parables, similitudes, etc, which were the figments of Aristotle, Pliny, and others When I heard these things, I could no longer contain myself, and, like Saul among the prophets, I began to give my opinion, and to refute those futile assertions by arguments drawn from experience and reason.

Some of them agreed with me, and began to test my knowledge with many questions. But I was so well grounded that I stood the test to the admiration of all They all marvelled at the soundness of my knowledge, and affirmed with one voice that I should be received into their fellowship. These words filled me with great joy. But they said I could not be their Brother until I knew their Lion, and his internal and external properties. ^ They told me. I must summon up my whole strength to subdue him. I confidently replied that I would leave no stone unturned to attain this object. For their kindness affected me so, that I would not have left them for all the wealth of this world. Therefore they conducted me to the Lion, and were at great pains to declare to me his nature. But no one would tell me how I must treat him at first. Some of them did indeed mutter a few words on this point, but so confusedly and obscurely, that scarce one in a thousand would. have understood their meaning. However, they said that when I had bound him without being harmed by his sharp claws and terrible teeth, I should know all the rest. This Lion was old, fierce, great, and terrible to behold with his flowing yellow mane. Then Í repented of my temerity, and would gladly have retreated if I had not been held to my purpose by my vow, and

the old men that surrounded me. So I carefully descended into the Lion's den, and strove to pacify him; but he glared upon me with red eyes, and affrighted me so that I could hardly stand upon my feet, and thought that my last hour had come. But calling to mind what one of the old men had said to me when I entered the den, namely, that many had undertaken to tame the Lion, but that only few had accomplished it, I summoned up courage, and tried several artifices, which I had learned by diligent training. Moreover, I had some knowledge of natural magic. I therefore relinquished my blandishments, and seized him so gently, skilfully, and subtly, that almost before he knew what I was about I had drawn all the blood from his body, and from his very heart and bowels. "This blood was red indeed, but choleric. Then I proceeded to dissect him, and made a most marvellous discovery :—his bones were as white as snow, and their quantity more considerable than that of the blood. When the old men who stood round the den, and had watched our struggle, saw this, they began to converse with great eagerness, as I could see from their gestures— for, being in the den, I could not hear their words. But anon their dispute began to run high, and I could distinguish these words: * He must bring him to life again if he wishes to be our brother." Therefore, without further delay, I stepped out of the den into a large open space, and then suddenly (I know not how) found myself upon a very high wall, which rose more than 100 yards into the air, but at the top was not more than a foot in width, and along the middle of it ran an iron battlement of great strength.

Now as I passed along I thought I saw one walking before me on the right side of the battlement. When I had followed him a short distance I became aware of another person following me on the other side ; but, whether it was a man or a woman I cannot undertake to say. This person hailed me, and said that there was more convenient footing on his side than on mine. "This I was quite ready to believe; for the battlement, which was on the middle of the wail, made the path so narrow as to render progress extremely difficult at such a great height ; indeed, I noticed that some of those who followed me actually fell Therefore I got over the battlement on to the other side, and proceeded to the end of the wall, which presented a most

difficult and dangerous descent. Then I was sorry that I had deserted my own side, as I could neither advance nor retreat. But, remembering that fortune befriends the bold, I attempted the descent, and by using my hands and feet, I got down safely. Now when I had advanced a little further, I put away all thought of danger, and: forgot all about the wall and the battlement. "Then lighting upon a certain place, I found white and red roses, but the latter were more abundant ; so I gathered some of them and stuck them in my cap. In that place were some most beautiful women, and in the neighbouring garden a number of young men were to be seen. But a wall which surrounded the garden prevented the latter from joining the women. They were eager to do so, but were not allowed to go round the garden and find the gate. The sight moved me to pity, and therefore I hastily went back by the smooth path along which I had come, and soon reached some houses, among which I expected to find the gardener' cottage. But I found there many men, of whom each had his own cell (in. very few there were two living together). They were all busily at work, each labouring by himself Their work was of a kind long and familiarly known to me indeed, far too well known. So I said to myself:

* Behold, here are many persons at work upon vain and foolish experiments, which have a certain specious plausibility (according to each man's idiosyncrasy), but no real foundation in Nature. Surely you, too, will obtain forgiveness." At least, I would not suffer myself to be detained with these barren futilities, but went on my way. When I reached the gate of the garden some looked askance at me, and I was afraid they would prevent me from carrying out my purpose. Others murmured, and said: "Look, this fellow presumes to approach the gate of the garden, and we who have spent so many years in these horticultural labours, have never gained admittance! How we will jeer at him if he meets with a repulse" But I paid no attention to their talk (for I knew the interior of that garden better than they, although I had never been in it), and approached the gate, which was double-locked, and in which there appeared to be no keyhole, but soon I perceived a keyhole which would have escaped any common observer. So I inserted my master key (called by some " the adulteress "), which I had diligently fashioned for the purpose, pushed back

the bolt, and entered. After passing this gate, I came upon other bolted gates, which, however, I opened without any difficulty. So I entered the garden, and found in the middle of it a small square garden, which was surrounded with a rose hedge covered with beautiful roses, and as a little rain was falling, and the rays of the sun shone upon it, I beheld a rainbow. But I was hastening past the small garden, to that place where I thought I could aid the young women, when, behold, there came forward the most beautiful of all the maidens, arrayed in silk and satin, with the most beautiful of the youths, dressed in a scarlet robe. They walked arm in arm to the rose garden, and carried many fragrant roses in their hands. I greeted them, and and asked how she had got over. * This my beloved bridegroom," she said, "helped me, and now we are leaving this pleasant garden, and hastening to our chamber to satisfy our love" "Iam glad," I returned, * that without any trouble on my part your desires have been fulfilled. ^ But you see how much trouble I have taken on your behalf, having traversed so great a distance in so short a time" Then I came to a water-mill, built within of stones, where there were no flour bins or other millers requisites; yet I saw wheels driven round by the water.

I asked the decrepit miller the reason, and he told me the grinding took place somewhere out of view. At the same moment I saw a miller enter that place by a small bridge, and immediately followed him. ^ When I had passed the bridge, which was on the right side of the wheels, [ paused and beheld a wonderful sight. In a moment the wheels were above the bridge; I saw very black water, with white drops; the bridge was only about three inches wide; but by clinging to the rails I got safely back, without being wetted at all, and asked the old man how many wheels he had. He answered, *Ten" I was troubled by the marvellous incident, and would gladly have known its meaning, but felt that it was labour lost to ask the old man any questions, and so departed. Before the mill was a raised platform on which some of the aforesaid old men were walking to and fro in the warm sunshine, discussing a letter which they had received from the Faculty of the University. I guessed the tenor of the letter, and, feeling sure that it concerned me, I addressed to them

a question to that effect. "It Zoes concern you," they said, * the wife whom you married a long time ago, you must keep for ever, or else we must tell our chief" * You need not trouble yourselves about this matter," I said, *for we were born together, and brought up together as children, and now that I have married her, I will never forsake her, but cherish her till her last breath ; nay, even death itself shall not sever us" It is well" they said, *your wife is satisfied, too; you must be joined together." * | am content," I said. "It is well," they repeated. * For thus the Lion will be restored to life, and be more powerful and more active than he was before" Then I remembered my labours, and knew by certain signs that this matter concerned not myself, but a very good friend of mine. As these thoughts crossed my mind, I saw our bridegroom and his beloved bride—both clothed in the aforesaid garments—come forward, eager to be joined together. "This sight gladdened me ; for I had been afraid that the whole matter concerned me. Now when the bridegroom, in his bright scarlet robe, with his bride, whose silk dress gave out shining rays, reached. the old men, they were straightway joined together. And I marvelled that the maiden, who was said to be the mother of her bridegroom, was of so youthful an appearance, that she might have seemed his daughter But I know not what sin they had committed, except that brother and sister had been drawn to each other by such passionate love that they could no more be separated;

and, being charged with incest, they were shut up for ever in a close prison, which, however, was as pellucid and transparent as glass, and arched like the heavenly vault,so that all that they did could be seen from without. Here they were to do penance for their sins with ever-flowing tears, and true sorrow. All their clothes and outward ornaments were taken away. None of their servants and friends were allowed to be with them, but after they had received sufficient meat and drink (the latter taken from the aforesaid water), the door was shut and locked, and the seal of the Faculty was affixed to it. I was entrusted with the charge of heating their chamber in the winter, so that they might be neither too hot nor too cold, and I was further to see that they did not escape. If any accident of any kind happened, I was to be severely punished. I did not like this

charge; and, as I remembered that the matter was most important, and that the College of Sages were not wont to say what they did not mean, I was filled with fear. But since I had to bear that which I could not alter, and since the chamber was situated in a strong tower, and surrounded with battlements and lofty walls, and, moreover, could be easily heated with a gentle and continuous fire, I called upon God for help, and began to heat the chamber. But what happened? As soon as they felt the grateful warmth, they fell to embracing each other so passionately that the husband's heart was melted with the excessive ardour of love, and he fell down broken in many pieces. When she who loved him no less than he loved her, saw this, she wept for him, and, as it were, covered him with overflowing tears, until he was quite flooded and concealed from view. But those complaints and tears did not last long, for being weary with exceeding sorrow, she at length destroyed herself. Alas! what fear and anguish fell upon me, when I saw those who had been so straitly committed to my charge, lying, as it were, melted and dead before me. I felt sure that I should be put to death for it; but the jeers, the derision, and the contempt which I would have to undergo seemed more grievous even than death.

In this anxious state of mind I spent several days, until the thought occurred to me that, if Medea had restored a dead body to life, I might perhaps be able to do the same. But I could think of no better plan than to keep up the warmth of the chamber until the water should have evaporated, and the dead bodies of the lovers could again be seen. doubted not that then I should most honourably escape from all danger. So I kept up the fire forty days, the water diminishing from day to day, and the dead bodies beginning to reappear. Now, however, they looked as black as coals. "This effect would have been produced sooner if the chamber had not been so closely shut and sealed so that I could in no wise open it. For I noticed that the water rose to the roof of the chamber, and then came down again like rain ; but it could find no exit from the chamber, until the dead bodies had putrefied and began to give out a grievous smell In the meantime the rays of the sun, shining upon the moisture of the chamber, produced a most beautiful rainbow ; and, after all my sorrow, the sight of its gay

colours filled me with great delight; and I was particularly pleased to see my lovers lying before me. But as there is no joy without a drop of bitterness, so I was still disturbed by the thought that those who had been committed to my care were still lying lifeless. Nevertheless, I comforted myself with the reflection that the chamber (being so tightly closed) must still contain their souls and spirits. "Therefore I continued diligently to perform my office of warming them, being assured that they would not return to their bodies while they could enjoy that moist atmosphere. "This conjecture was justifed by the event. For towards evening I noticed that many vapours rose from the earth through the heat of the sun, and were lifted up as water is attracted by the sun ; afterwards when night fell, they watered the earth as fertilising dew, and washed our bodies, which became more beautiful and white the oftener this sprinkling took place. And the whiter they became, the more the quantity of moisture in the air diminished, until at last the atmosphere was too thin for the spirit and soul to remain therein any longer; so they were at length compelled to return to the clarified body of the Queen, which (to my great joy) was straightway restored to life. My joy was all the greater, because now she was arrayed in a beautiful and magnificent garment such as is rarely seen by mortal eye, and had a glorious crown, all made of diamonds, upon her head.

Thus attired, she stood upon her feet and cried: * Know this, ye mortals, and let it enter your hearts, that the most High God is one God, who has power to set up and pull down kings. He makes rich and poor as He wills. He has killed, and raised again. I was great, and was brought low; but now, having been humbled, I have been made Queen of many more kingdoms. After death life has been restored to me. When I was poor, the treasures of the wise and mighty were committed to me. Therefore I, too, can make the poor rich, give grace to the humble, and restore the health of the sick. But I am not yet able to raise my beloved brother, the most mighty King, from the dead. Nevertheless, when he comes, he will show that my words are true," When she had thus spoken the sun lighted up the world with his glorious rays, and the heat waxed great (for the dog days were approaching) Long before this, garments of rich black silk, of grey or ash-coloured damask,

of rare white silk, embroidered with silver, precious pearls, and brilliant diamonds, had been got ready towards the marriage of our Queen ; and now garments of many colours, of flesh colour, orange, and saffron, and of red and scarlet silk, richly embroidered with rubies and carbuncles, were being prepared for the adornment of our new King. But there was no one to be seen working at those garments ; yet one after another was got ready, insomuch that I greatly marvelled, because I knew that none but the bride and the bridegroom had entered the chamber. My wonder increased when I observed that as each dress was finished, those that had been there before straightway vanished, though I could see no one put them away. Now when that most precious scarlet garment had been finished, the great and mighty King appeared in great splendour and indescribable magnificence, and when he saw that he was shut in, he besought me, in the most persuasive accents, to open the door, as it would be to my advantage to let him out of the chamber. Now, though I had been most strictly enjoined not to open the chamber, I was filled with awe by the majesty and persuasive speech of the King, and acceded to his request. When he left the chamber, he bore himself so kindly, so gently, and so humbly, that I could not help reflecting that these virtues are the most glorious ornaments of the great.

As he had passed the dog days in great heat he was extremely thirsty, spent, and weary ; wherefore he humbly requested me to bring him some water from the river where it raged and foamed under the wheels. I gladly acceded to his request, and, after slaking his thirst with a deep draught, he returned to the chamber, requesting me to shut the door carefully so that no one might disturb him or rouse him from his sleep. So he slept a few days, and then called me back to open the door again. He looked much more beautiful, ruddier, and more royal, and said that this water was very precious and full of virtue. — When at his request I had fetched him some more, he took a deeper draught than before, insomuch that the size of the chamber seemed to become enlarged. After drinking of this water (which is lightly esteemed by the ignorant) as much as he desired, he became so beautiful and glorious that in all my life I do not remember to have seen a more glorious man, or more glorious deeds. For he took me D

into his kingdom and showed me all the treasures and riches of the whole world, till I was obliged to confess, that so far from exaggerating his power, the Queen had not told me the half of it. Of gold and precious carbuncles there was no end. "There was also to be found renewal and restoration of youth, and of the natural faculties, and recovery of lost health, with a never failing panacea for all diseases. What pleased me most of all, was that the people of that kingdom knew, feared, and honoured their Creator, and asked and obtained of him wisdom, understanding, and, after this life, eternal glory and beatitude. May this latter be given to us also by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Trinity, to Whom belong praise, glory, and honour, world without end, Amen. ^ul tisl ^. dilepmm ied niae bsedlumn cni HAVING NOW APPEARED A SECOND TIME, FLOURISHED BEAUTIFULLY, AND BROUGHT FORTH FRAGRANT AND GOLDEN SEED. THIS RARE AND PRECIOUS SEED IS SHEWN AND IMPARTED TO ALL THE SONS OF TRUE WISDOM AND THE DOCTRINE, ** Jf any of you lack swisdom, let him ask of God, who Qzves sinply, and without upbraiding, and it shall be

: a P : Q7ven to him."—]AMES i, 5. '" The Centre of the World—a Grazn of Sand." To the Worthy and Christian Reader. ELOVED and pious reader, above all, ye who are Sons of Wisdom and the Doctrine, some years ago Almighty God, in answer to my daily prayers, opened my eyes by the light of His Holy Spirit (Who was sent us through Christ by the Father, and from Whom we receive all wisdom), and enabled me to discover the True Centre in the Centre ofthe Triangle and the one true Matter of the precious Philosopher's Stone, so that I now hold it in my hands; but it took me five years longer to discover how the blood of the Red Lion and the glue of the White Eagle were to be extracted, and how these were to be mixed in their natural proportions, enclosed, sealed, and committed to the secret fire. — Nor did I even then find the arcanum without constant and untiring application. — I have, indeed, studied the writings, parables, and various figures of the philosophers with singular industry, and laboured hard to solve their manifold wonderful enigmas, most of which are simply the vain products of their imaginations. It was long before experience taught me that all their obscure verbiage and high pretensions are mere folly and empty phantasms (as is amply testified by our leading Sages) "Then I understood that their preparations (of which we read in Geber, Albertus Magnus, and others), their purgations, sublimations, cementations, distillations, rectifications, circulations, putrefactions, conjunctions, solutions, coagulations, calcinations, incinerations, mortifications, revivifications, &c., as also their tripods, athanors (furnaces), reverberatory alembics, excrements of horses, ashes, sand, stills, pelican-violas, retorts, fixatories, &c., are mere plausible impostures and frauds. This must be apparent to any one who considers the truth ofthe matter. Nature, who, in her noble simplicity, delights in her own

proper substance, knows nothing of these futilities. — Hence "Theophrastus (Sec. Mag. de Phil. Lap.) rightly says of those who seek the substance of the Stone in wine, imperfect bodies, blood, bismuth, mercury, sulphur, wine, dung, orpiment, and in plants, as chelidonia, hyssop, ivy, &c., that they are full of lies and thievery—deceiving the credulous, milking their purses dry, and, as to the rest, following their own foolish fancies, that are quite unable to realise the requirements of Nature. (Tell menow who will help me with the minerals of the earth, distillations of water, &c.?) Some of them take new wine and urine for the purpose of changing them into metals. To hear them talk, you might suppose all that is sold at the apothecaries to be good for metals. Thou foolish man, dost thou not perceive that none of these things have anything to do with them ? You might as well try to sever Nature, as endeavour to make metals out of blood. Make a man out of a horse, or a milch cow out of a mouse : this would be according to the same method of multiplication. Art cannot change or overstep the natural order of the universe. Ifa woman bring forth a male child, you cannot change him into alittle girl. From this rule, which evidently obtains throughout Nature, any sane person may gather where, and how, we must look for, and find, our Blessed Matter.

But let no one imagine, or suffer any quack to delude him into the belief, that he has all that he requires when the substance has been made known to him either by God, or by one of the initiated. Let him not suppose that the solution and purification are a very simple matter. He could fall into no more serious mistake. He has scarcely got beyond the most elementary stage of his task. Let me once more tell him that I spent five entire years, after discovering the true Matter of the Stone, in the search after the right method of manipulating it, until at length, in the sixth year, the key of power was entrusted to me by the secret revelation of the most High God. "That same key the ancient Patriarchs, Prophets, and Sages have always kept secret. * For i£" says Monarcha, in a certain passage, "they had described it in an universally intelligible manner, and placed it within the reach of every labourer and porter, it would have been a great theft, and no true mystery ; moreover, many evils would arise from such a profanation of the arcanum, which would also

Y om rmm REM dieetibu iu qui a, THE GOLDEN AGE RESTORED. ss be manifestly contrary to God's will." For these and other reasons (which I have stated in the Epilogue), lest I should seem to be hiding the talent committed to me by God, I have in this my * Golden Age Come Back " (as far as Nature and God allow) revealed the Great Mystery of the Sages, which, through the grace of God, I have seen with these eyes, and handled with these hands. "The just and pious reader will regard my undertaking with a kindly eye, and not suffer seeming contradictions to mislead him: the theory of and practice of this Art, and the laws which obtain in the Republic of the Chemists, forbade me to write more openly or plainly. Ihope and trust that, nevertheless, all who look upon this book with the eyes of the mind, pore over it by day and by night, and pray to God from the bottom of their hearts, will, together with me, enjoy the wonderful hidden fruits of philosophy. In this way the Brethren of the true Golden Cross, and the elect members of the philosophic communion, are and remain joined together in a great confederation.

In conclusion, that the learned and worthy Christian reader may know my Christian name and my surname, I will remove every cause of complaint by making it known in the following manner. Let all and sundry be certified that the number of my name is I6I3: by this number my whole name is written in the book of Nature with two dead ones, and seven living ones. After that, the letter 5 is the fifth part of B, and 15 the fifth part of 12. With this information you must be satisfied. Written at Taunenberg, March 23rd, 1622. Epigram to the Sons of Wisdom and the Doctrine. I have sought ; I have found ; I have often purified ; and I have joined together; I have matured it: Then the golden tincture has followed, which is called the Centre of Nature (heuce so many opinions, so many books, so many parables). It is the Remedy, I openly declare it, for all metals, and for all sick persons. "The solution is of God. HERMAN DATICHIUS, The Author's Famulus. £p c ME. 4 PRSE D "un o d "a 4- uw 3 — ; E TIN LEA r i id - I y 3 A. : 1 T -— depo ht. E ? Per Lun it Lm XI Y " : " ERE IUEBNMRULMTL PETS r Pme mmu

S I pondered in my mind the marvels of the Most bours, which He laid upon us; I remembered the . wheat harvest, when Reuben, the son of Leah, found Dudaim in the field, which Leah gave to Rachel for the love of the Patriarch Jacob. "Then I was carried forward, being plunged in profound thought, to the time of Moses, who rendered potable the golden calf (which Aaron had formed) by reducing it to powder in the fire, throwing it into the water, and giving it the children of Israel to drink ; and I marvelled greatly at the wonderful and masterly destruction of the metal by the man of God. But when I reflected upon the matter, the truth was borne in upon my mind, and my eyes were opened like those of the disciples at Emmaus, who knew their Master in the breaking of bread ; and my heart burned within me. Then I retired to rest, that I might consider the matter further (on the morrow), and fell into a deep slumber ; when, behold, Solomon appeared to me in all his power, wealth, and glory, and with him came his whole harem: sixty were queens, eight hundred concubines, and of virgins there was a countless number. One of them was his most beautiful dove, and was dearest to his heart. They formed a procession according to the Catholic rite, in the centre of which was one greatly praised and beloved, whose name was like ointment poured out, and whose fragrance was sweeter than that of spices ; the fiery spirit of this person was the Key for the opening of the Temple, for entering the Holy of Holies, and taking hold on the horns of the Altar. When the procession had been performed in the manner aforesaid, Solomon shewed me the One Centre in the Triangle

of the Centre, and opened my understanding. "Then I observed that a woman stood behind me, who had bared her breast, from a deep wound in which blood and water gushed forth. Her thighs were like two half-moons, made by the Master; her navel was like a round goblet; her belly like a heap of wheat, set about with roses; her breasts like two young roes that are twins ; her neck like a tower of ivory ; her eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the Gate of Bathrabbim ; her nose like the Tower of Lebanon, which looketh towards Damascus ; her head like Carmel, and the hair of her head like royal purple. Her garments, which were rancid, ill-savoured, and full of venom, lay at her feet, whither she had cast them ; and at length she broke forth into these words: *I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I dele them ? — The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; they took away my veil from me." "Thereupon I fell to the ground with great and ignorant terror. But Solomon bade me rise, and said : * Fear not ; for you see Nature bared, and the most secret of all secrets that is found beneath the sky and earth : She is beautiful as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners—and nevertheless the pure and chaste virgin of whom Adam was formed and created.

The entrance of her tabernacle is sealed. She lives in gardens, sleeps in the double cave of Abraham, in the field of Hebron, and her palace is in the depths of the Red Sea, and in transparent caverns. "The air bare her, the fire nourished her: therefore she is the Queen of the earth, and has honey and milk in her breasts; her lips are as a dropping honeycomb ; honey and milk are under her tongue ; and the smell of her garments is to the wise like the smell of Lebanon—but to the ignorant an abomination. ^ And Solomon said further : * Awake, and see my whole harem, and say what it is like." And straightway his whole harem was stripped naked. Yet could I not find or judge, and my eyes were sealed lest I should know the secret When Solomon saw my infirmity, he set that naked woman apart from the rest of the harem, and said : *'Thy thoughts are vain, and thy mind is sunburnt ; thy memory is shrouded in a thick mist, so that thou canst judge nothing

rightly. But if thou art on the watch, and makest good use of thy present opportunity, the bloody sweat and snowy tears of this virgin will have power to restore thee, and to strengthen and clarify thy intellect and memory that thy eyes may see the secret wonders of the Most High, the height of the things above, the depth of the things beneath, and that thou mayst clearly understand the powers and operation of all Nature, and of the elements. "Thy intellect shall be silver, and thy memory golden. The colour of all precious stones shall appear before thy eyes; thou shalt know their birth, and separate the good from the bad, the sheep from the goats. "Thy life shall be peace, butthe bells of Aaron shall rouse thee from sleep, and the lyre of David, my father, from drowsiness" These words of Solomon awed and terrified me still more; in partl was adread at such emphatic speech, and in part also at the splendour and glory ofthe King's harem. But King Solomon seized my right hand, and led me through a wine cellar into a most splendid secret palace, where he refreshed me with flowers and apples. The windows were of transparent crystal, and I gazed through them. Andhesaid: * What do you see?" I said : *[ see the former chamber whence we came, and on the left stands thy royal harem, and on the right naked virgins.

Their eyes are redder than wine, and their teeth whiter than milk. But the garments that lie at their feet are fouler, blacker, and more unsightly than the river Kidron." .* Choose out one of these," said Solomon, *to be your love. I esteem the virgins even as my own harem. And the more their loveliness delights me, the less am I deterred by their foul garments" With this, the King turned himself and spoke most kindly to one of his queens. There was in the chamber a mistress of about a hundred years of age. She was arrayed in a grey robe, and had a black fillet on her head, that was embroidered with many brilliant jewels, and lined within with red, yellow, and blue silk ; her mantle was heavily ornamented with all kinds of Turkish and Indian colours and figures. This ancient woman nodded to me, and swore piously that she was the mother of that naked virgin, and that she was a pure, chaste, and sealed virgin, who had never before suffered the eye of man to dwell upon her, nor had any one ever touched her. She was the virgin of whom the

Prophet had spoken: *Behold, we have a secret son, who with others has been changed. Behold,a virgin has conceived, the virgin that is called Apdorossa, that is, the sealed one, who suffers not others." Because her daughter was still unmarried, she had concealed her dowry beneath her feet, lest in the present war she should be deprived of her wealth by soldiers. But I was not to be deterred by her foul garments, but to choose her daughter from among all the rest for my beloved one, and the pleasure of my life. IfIdid so she would give mea lye with which I could cleanse her garments. Moreover, with her hand I should receive the flowing salt, the incombustible oil, and an inestimable treasure. ^ She was about to declare this to me more in detail, when Solomon turned round, looked askance at me, and said : * I am the wisest of men, and my pleasant harem and the glory and the beauty of my queens excel the gold of Ophir. The ornaments of my concubines shame the rays of the sun, and the beauty of my virgins the light of the moon. My virgins are heavenly, my wisdom inscrutable, my mind past finding out."

Then I answered, while I bowed down to the ground with awe: * Behold, if I have found grace in your eyes—for I am lowly—give me that naked virgein whom I have chosen from among all, to preserve my life. Her garments are old, defiled, and foul, but I will purge them, and love her with all my heart. Let her be my sister, my spouse, since one glance of her eyes has stolen away my heart, and I am sick with love for her." On hearing this Solomon straightway gave her to me. With that there arose a tumult in the harem, which roused me from my sleep, Now I knew not what had happened to me; but I took it for some dream, and thereupon until the light dawned I was full of subtle thoughts. But when I had risen, and poured forth my prayers, behold, I saw the garments of the naked virgin lying by my bedside, and when I saw not her, my hair stood on end, and I was covered with a cold perspiration. But I took heart and recalled my dream, and endeavoured to remember whether it had been real or not. But seeing that my pondering could explain nothing, I would by no means look again upon the garments, much less did I dare to touch them. So I changed my chamber, and, out of sheer ignorance, left those garments